People spend money every year on getting their teeth cleaned and whitened, because we all want that attractive, bright smile. While you shouldn’t avoid professional dental care, there are several things you can do on your own to keep your smile bright. For starters, you can limit your intake of foods that darken or stain your teeth.

Colored Candies

When you eat candy that is colored bright red, blue, or purple, you can usually see the stain on your tongue, lips, and teeth. However, after the stain fades from your skin, you might forget that the candy may still be affecting your smile. If you don’t rinse your mouth or brush afterward, the sticky candy will bind to your tooth enamel. Failure to remove it can cause plaque, which can turn your teeth off-white or yellowish .In addition to practicing healthy oral hygiene at home, you should also visit your dentist twice yearly. A dentist can advise you on proper oral hygiene and preventative dental care.

Berries

Berries are excellent for your overall health. They have many nutrients and antioxidants that can give you energy and help you fight infections. However, berries also contain natural dyes that can stick to your teeth. So the next time you enjoy some strawberries or blueberries in your smoothie, rinse your teeth with water. Wait about half an hour and then brush your teeth to remove staining.

Turmeric And Curry

Turmeric is the ingredient in curry that gives the spice its bright yellow color. Curry tastes delicious and people use turmeric as a supplement to treat arthritis and problems related to the stomach, liver, gallbladder, and skin. You probably shouldn’t eat curry every day if you wish to maintain white teeth as turmeric is known to stain teeth yellow. However, if you eat it in moderation and brush your teeth twice daily, you can still enjoy the benefits of turmeric.

Sauces

Sauces are great for adding flavor to rice, noodles, or salad dishes, but they also have the potential to stain your teeth as badly as they might stain your clothes. Soy sauce and balsamic vinegar are especially dangerous culprits of staining and can leave your teeth a dark yellow color after your meal that, if you don’t brush and rinse your mouth, can stick.

These foods are all tasty, and many even have wonderful health benefits. However, to maintain a bright white smile, you should consume these foods in moderation and be sure to brush your teeth twice a day.

Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources make sure to check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Anita Ginsburg is a freelance writer from Denver, Colo. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn't writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.

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Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.